Island



(No Model.)

F. RIGHARBSQN.

CLASP PASTBNNG PQR QVERSHOES.

No. 338,555. Patented Mar. 23, 1886.

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NITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

FREDERICK RICHARDSON, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

'CLASP-FASTENING FOR OVERSHOES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.338,555, dated March 23, 1886.

Application tiled May 13, 1885. Serial No. 165,331.

lthis speciiication.

My invention relates to devices for fastening together the side flaps of overshoes, Src., over the wearers instep, so as to secure aperfect fit at this point.

The object of my invention is to avoid the clumsy appearance, which has heretoforebeen a defect in this class of devices, to overcome the ditticulty of adjustment in securing the proper fit, and to prevent any accidental un`v fastening of the clasp, which has heretofore been liable to occur.

To the above purposes Iny invention consists, rst, in the peculiar and novel construction of the tongue and tongue-plate, whereby the movements of the former are controlled by a peculiar cam formed integrally with the tongue-plate and acting upon a peculiar spring formed integrally with the tongueplate, as hereinafter described and claimed.

My invention further consists in the peculiar and novel construction of the catch-plate whereby all adjustments of the clasp are made so as to necessitate the use of but a single slot for the tongue, as also hereinafter described and claimed.

My invention still further consists in the peculiar and novel construction of the hingeconnection between the tongue and tongueplate, whereby great strength, durability, and simplicity are obtained for the clasp; and, lastly, my invention consists in the novel form of the catch-plate, whereby the strain is prevented from coming directly upon the hinge, as hereinafter described and claimed.

In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will proceed to describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a top view of a shoe-clasp embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the clasp in the Fig. 4 is an under side act of being secured.

(No model.)

plan view of the same. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one part of the clasp, looking at the end of the same. Fig. 6 is an under side plan view of a modified form of the catch-plate. Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the same on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 isA an under side plan view of a further modification of the catch-plate.l Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the same on the line 9 9 of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a plan view of a modification of the tongueplate.

In the said drawings, a designates the tongue or base-plate; b, the tongue, which is hinged to said plate and operates as a snaphook; and c designates the catch-plate, which is provided with a transverse slot, o', to receive the tongue b.

The tongue-plate a is formed with two arms, a', the outer ends of which are bifurcated, and the portions thus left are connected bypintles a2. Upon one of the arms a is formed a iiat bearing, a, for the cam on the tongue, which extends laterally toward the opposite arln a.

The tongue b is formed with two extensions, b', which are bent so as to embrace the pintles a, and thus form the hinge or hinges by which the tongue is attached to the tongue-plate. The said tongue is also formed with 'a cam, b2, which is located between the extensions b', and acts upon the bearing c in the manner hereinafter described.

The catch-plate c is formed with the slot c to receive the tongue b, as before stated, and also with three other transverse slots, c2, c3, and ct, to hold the catch-plate upon the shoe- Hap, as will be presently described` X X designate the two flaps of the shoe, and :n a." the straps of the same. The strap a; is passed through the loop of plate a, and is turned under and secured permanently to itself by stitching, or in any other suitable manner. The loop ofthe tongue-plate a may be either of the longer form shown in Figs. l, 2, 3,. `d4,or of the shorter form shown in Fig. 1i), In the latter of which forms the tongue-plate is more concealed than in the former case.

The catch-plate c is bent at one end and the slot c* is formed in this bend. As shown at c5 in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, the bend extends downwardly and then outwardly. At c in Figs. 6 and 7 the bend extends downwardly and then under toward the opposite end of the plate.

` ure upon the cam b2.

At c7 o8 in fFigsS and 9 thel bend is composed of two extensions,which lie beneath the plate, and the ends of which are brought together to form the slot c". In either of these forms Athestrap x is passed first inward through slot then upward through slot c3, then downward through slot c2, and finally outward again through slot c4. Thus by the combined action of the bend and slots the strap x is held se-i curely in a bight which, however,per1nits the plate to be moved upon the strap nearer to or farther from the iiap X', so as -to allow for] different heights of instep. By reason of thisl l ready adjustment of plate c it is formed with rbut one slot, c', for the tongue b, and thus the, appearance of the clasp vis greatly improvedlv and its manipulation much simplified. Thel vkwhole .length of the base-plate a serves as spring during the operation ofthe tongue, thus 'g producing an even and nearlyvuniforui .press-i Before the tongue is attached to the base-plate .the arms of said plateg are 'bent by each othe1',so 'that the arm whiohl carries the cam-bearing a3 lies higher than thei opposite arm, as shown in Fig. y5, the result; being that when the hinges of the tongue are Aclosed in position on the bearings of the base-,

plate a pressure is exerted on the cam b2, Iso; that it will hold the Atongue down firmly whenl closed.

The operation of the clasp is as follows: The;I

base-plate being held rigidly at the bearing b',

'be observed that the bearings for the hinges,y are very strong, as `they are backed by the` 'solid metal or" the base-plate, and hence all` lia-bility of fracture from strain is avoided. It J ingly located on the tongue hinged to vsaid arms, for the purpose described.

2. 'The combination,with a resilient tongueplate 'having two arms, :one of which has a spring cam-:bearing'extending 'upwardly and vinwardly and acting 'with 'a cam correspondingly Ylocated ou the )tongue hinged to Isaid arms, of a'transversel-y-,bent kcatch-plate'having Athe tongue-hearinglying below the line of said'hinges when locked, for the purpose .described.

3. yThe combination, with the base-plate a, 'having the arms a', Ipi-ntles a2, and cam-bearing a, of the tongue formed with the eXtensons b and ca1n'b`,asjdescribed.

4. The catchplate having'the slots c', c,

and/c3, and the 'bendwith itsslot c, asset forth.

5. lThecoInbination,-with the kcatch-plate o,

'having Athe bend a9, vof the base-plate a, having FREDERICK RICHARDSON.

Vitnesses:

M. F. BLIGH, J. A. MILLER, Jr. 

